MatthewBaker comments on The elephant in the room, AMA

[MatthewBaker]

I will if i see him when i visit the institute when i go back to school :)

[Arandur]

You let me know how that turns out. In the meantime, I’ll try to ponder a way out of the puzzle.

Well really, the solution is to adopt the Litany of Tarski. But I suppose that’s easier said than done...

[MatthewBaker]

I desire to believe that a benevolent being exists outside of our simulation that will protect my consciousness when i die. However, i think its much more unlikely than

The young boy stood very straight, his chin raised high and proud, and said: “There is no justice in the laws of Nature, Headmaster, no term for fairness in the equations of motion. The universe is neither evil, nor good, it simply does not care. The stars don’t care, or the Sun, or the sky. But they don’t have to! We care! There is light in the world, and it is us!”

And to my benefit socially i will continue to believe that until more evidence is revealed to me by this upcoming return of our savior you think is going to happen, and i respect your right to follow the LDS doctrine even if i dont share your beliefs. I just dont respect a lot of other Mormons who believe as you do without the same scrutiny towards religion and politics.

[Arandur]

I think that’s an entirely honorable and right way of thinking, and I respect you for it… which is why, given my belief system already in place, I earnestly hope (and am researching to see if this hope is consistent with my beliefs, otherwise I have some serious thinking to do about what I need to believe!) that all you who are looking for more evidence will have the chance to act on it when it’s given in the future. :3

But thank you for affording me the respect of recognizing my capability and predilection for rational thought.